Wrestling dropped from the Olympics

Source: BBC Sport - Wrestling dropped from 2020 Olympic Games


I am absolutely gutted.

Completely leaving out the historic significance and current popularity of Greco-Roman wrestling, to put it on the same pedestal as time-wasters such as wakeboarding, baseball and squash... they have got to be kidding.

Fucking speechless.

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What do you think about the IOC's decision? Do you agree with Wrestling's exclusion, while sports such as Golf remain on the ticket?

What's your view?

 

Golf! A waste of a good walk an olympian event! I am shocked. Wrestling should be left alone. Not that I have an interest in it myself, but when you totaly alter something that is a tradition, should you not just call it something else, a new thing?

 

As I finally figured out last year, the Olympics = NASCAR without the jumpsuits. It's all sponsors, tits 'n ass and ratings. The pre-game show is an arms race of pageantry overkill.

Sports, in general, are something that you should do yourself instead of watching on television.

 

I tell ya, I just hope I don't have to wait a full decade before we degenerate into a modern gladiator decapitating the day's current enemy (probably still a loony Arab) with a halberd sporting his country's colors (red white and blue!) while sheathing his veiny gladius into the waiting orifice of a girl covered in Coke and Nike logo tattoos.

 

Oh, you know what I'm thinking before I even hint at it.

I'm already drinking myself an ice cold Cadre Cola.

 

As a former grappler I must say this is bullshit.

Yeah the modern Olympics are pretty much a neutered version of what they once were, but removing wrestling given the history the sport has within the event is simply atrocious.

 

Golf is a demonstration sport, something that each host country gets to suggest as a permanent sport. Ballroom dancing was the same in Sydney, and it didn't take. Baseball/softball was in Atlanta, and it stuck (at least for a couple of cycles).


For the vast majority of athletes, at least the ones that aren't in basketball or track, this is their opportunity to compete on the world stage, and most of the athletic federations build their schedules around the 4 year Olympic cycle. This is the pinnacle of the effort they have been making.

I'll concede that the only thing that the modern Olympics shares with the ancient version is the name. But so what? The ancient Olympics were purely about finding the best warriors and heaping accolades on them while they were still alive. Every single ancient event had a direct correlation to warfare. And that is why war was suspended during the Games - the athletes were busy trying to kill each other elsewhere and weren't available UNLESS there was a ceasefire.

Speaking directly to the exclusion of wrestling, though - I think that it's simply another example of the IOC being inherently stupid and shortsighted. It's a huge sport in a part of the world that the IOC has been targeting recently - the Muslim world. It is probably the most popular sport that has ever been considered for exclusion in the modern games. However, the IOC is constantly adding new events, so they've finally hit (within the last few cycles) the point where the Summer Games are logistically unwieldy. They have to do some reduction, and they can't tough the big ones - track, swimming and gymnastics - since that where the revenue stream is.

 

Interesting and unfortunate decision.
Cycling is still in even though it's become a parody of a sport with the widespread doping.
I love cycling but if anything had to be dropped I think its a better candidate.
And golf being in the Olympics is a complete joke.

 

Your outrage is 4 years too late. This decision was announced then.

I agree about cycling, though.

 

As with most things the Olympics are not what they once were. Instead of policing the countries to have amateurs compete we now have pro's all over the place so it's "fair". Forget that it draws currency into the mix and destroys the meaning for the games. Now due to currency issues a real sport, wrestling, is on the outs. The Olympics are a complete joke to me.

 

I think Golf (like Tennis) doesn't have a place here. Ask a golfer would they rather win the US Masters or Olympic gold. These two sports already have/had pinnacles.

 

thats a shame.

considering that the turkic nations have been very good at wrestling for quite a while now, its disappointing that its is being taken away. This is especially the case since Turkey is on the shortlist to win the 2020 Games. id rather see weightlifting go than wrestling. but as biased as i am with running, i personally think that an ultramarathon race or trail race needs to be included in the Games. I understand the sanctity of the marathon, and how hard poor old phillipides had to work to relay the information, but these days 100km races are done every weekend and a real test of mental and physical endurance above all else.

as far as the winning bid is concerned, i personally want to see Tokyo get the 2020 Games because i want the UAE to have a better chance of a winning bid in 2024. If it goes to the muslim world in Istanbul in 2020, they've got buckleys chance of getting it in 2024.

 

Dubai would be a better choice I think, but Istanbul has more of a similar history to Greece. It will be interesting. I would think Dubai would draw in more outside tourists, and we know that they have the space to build the facilities and could use a few world class venues.

Wrestling has to stay. It is one of the basics.

 

Istanbul is a lovely city. i really enjoyed my time there. Its a mix of European with an eastern feel (or vice versa. i cant make up my mind) so i think it has a lot going for it in terms of being cosm0politan. the fact that it sits on two continents helps its cause immensely. i think the traffic would be a major issue though with the narrow roads throughout the city.

Dubai has the space, and money, and many of the facilities already built in Dubai Sport City. What it has going against it is the extreme weather in summer. It would have to push the olympics towards the end of the year if it wanted cooler weather for athletes.

getting rid of wrestling is like taking the cheese out of a cheeseburger. its unfathomable. i would, however replace it to see gladiators battle it out.

 

I love Istanbul. I wonder if it would be a great showcase for an amazing city.

 

I don't think there is much I can add to such a pointless decision by the IOC. Much like FIFA, it seems to be populated by a bunch of senior-aged dimwits.

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Symbolically, I can agree very much on Istanbul. Logistically, I can also see it as an absolute nightmare.

Dubai seems like a comparatively better option.

 

Itstanbul would be a challenge but no more so than Athens or London (i.e. old European cities).